Eight recommended actions can improve energy efficiency in buildings to unlock a “triple win” and address economic, environmental and social challenges in world’s urban areas

WASHINGTON, D.C. (May 11, 2016) — A new policy roadmap from World Resources Institute, Accelerating Building Efficiency: Eight Actions for Urban Leaders, shows how city-level leaders worldwide can overcome barriers to improving building efficiency and reduce energy demand through policy and market action. WRI finds that better energy efficiency in buildings can unlock a “triple win” of economic, environmental and social benefits for cities, and taking action now can avoid locking in decades of inefficiency.

Trees improve city dwellers' quality of life by reducing smog, preventing erosion, supporting wildlife and sheltering buildings from heat and cold. On International Day of Forests, Sarah Weber looks at how Tokyo, Belfast and Washington, D.C. have integrated trees into their urban landscapes.

To really understand what each country’s climate plan means for national emissions—and to trust that they’re on track to meet it—you need clear and complete information. A new paper finds that eight top emitters could go further in creating transparent plans.

This WRI analysis finds that renewable energy supplies are set to double collectively in eight major economies by 2030 spurred on by new national climate and energy plans. These renewable energy levels will be 18 percent higher in 2030 than previously projected growth rates.

This chart uses historical GHG emissions data and the targets and timetables in submitted pre-2020 pledges (for 2020 reductions) and INDCs to estimate the average annual change in emissions (decarbonization rate) from 2020-2030.

Some reports say Japan will set a target to reduce its greenhouse gases 20 percent below 2013 levels by 2030. Research shows that the country can go much further, achieving reductions of 31-37 percent by 2030.

Recently the world took two giant steps toward reaching a global agreement to fight climate change in 2015: a landmark U.S.-China accord and a $4.5 billion pledge to the Green Climate Fund by the United States and Japan.